Blank feeding and preparing machine.



E. W. LABOMBARDE.

BLANK FEEDING AND PREPARING MACHINE.

APPLICATION TILED MAY 8,1909.

1, 1 1 9,28%, Patented Dec. 1,1914.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

1 i Z$gesses1 W. LABOMBARDH.

BLANK FEEDING AND PREPARING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION TILED MAY 8,1909.

Patented Dec. 1, 1914.

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ffi @mLZ M E. W. LABOMBAEDE.

BLANK FEEDING AND PREPARING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAY 8,1909.

1,1 19,289. Patented Dec. 1,1914.

6 SHEETS --SHBET 3.

E. W. LABOMBARDE.

BLANK FEEDING AND PREPARING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 8, 1900.

' 1,1 19,289. Patented De0.1,1914.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

wv'inesae s In 2149 71 $0 7? B. W. LABOMBARDE.

BLANK FEEDING AND PREPARING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 8, 1909.

Patented Dec. 1, 1914.

6 BHEETB--B HBET 5.

- In 128 r2230?" wz'i'eases;

ELW. LABOMBARDB.

BLANK FEEDING AND PRBPARlNG MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 8,1909.

1,119,289. Patented Dec.1,1914.

0 SHEETS-SHBET 6.

. I WAW AMQ yaw (37y flxfirnim ELIE W. LABOMBARDE, OF NASHUA, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

BLANK FEEDING AND PREPARING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 1, 1914.

Application filed May 8, 1909. Serial No. 494,832.

To all llllU/ll it may concern lle it known that 1, Eur: \V. LABOMBARDE, of Nashua, in the county of l'lillsboro and State of New llainpshire, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Blank Feeding andPreparing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object to provide a simple and ell'ective machine for supplying paper box blanks, one at a time, in a flat condition. to another machine which folds the blanks into box form. and presses their gunnncd surfaces together, a type of the last mentioned machine beinglshown .in my appli-ation for Letters Patent of the l'nitcd States, Serial No. 179,827, filed February 24:, 1909.

The invention is embodied in fa blank feeding and gumming machine or attachment having provisions for holding a stack of superimposed blanks in a vertical position, or with each blank standing vertically on edge, feeding the innermost blank of the stack vertically downward to the nip of. a pair of feed rolls which positively engage and feed the blanks one at a time. a pair of endless conveying belts having opposed horizontal stretches between which the blanks are advanced by the feed rolls aided by suitable deflectors, the blanks being conveyed horizontally forward by the opposed stretches of the belts. mechanism cooperating with the belts for causing them to grip the blanks being fed and thus control the same at the end portions of the opposed stretches, the intermediate stretches and the blanks between them being relatively loose, .so that the blanks a re free to slip between the intermediate portions of the stretches, ;stop mechanism for arresting the blanks between the loose portions of the belts, gum or glue applying mechanism adapted to act on the arrested blanks, and means for causing the loose portions of the belt to close upon each blank after it has been gmnmed and released. so that the delivering portions of the stretches of the belt again grasp the blank and deliver it to the box folding machine.

Of the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.-Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 represents a top plan view of the said machine, a portion shown at the right hand end in Fig. 1 bemg broken away. Fig. 3 represents a section on line 33 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4: represents an enlargement of a portion of Fig. 3, showing the parts at a different stage of the operation. Fig. 5 represents a section on line 5. of Fig.2. Fig. (3 represents a front elevation of a portion of the feeding mechanism. Fig. 7 represents a section on line T-7 of Fig. (3. Fig. 8 represents a transverse section through the feed rolls and through the rolls which support the initial stretches of the conveyer belts. Fig. 9 represents a section on line 99 of Fig. 2.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the figures.

12, 12 represent the side members of the frame of the machine, the same being spaced apart and connected by transverse frame studs 13.

Ll and 15 represent endless conveyor belts which are mounted on suitable supporting rolls, the arrangement of the belts being such that they provide two opposed horizontal stretches adapted to engage and feed progressively a number of box blanks 16. The lower belt 11 is supported by driving pulleys 17 and 18 at the ends of the acting stretch, and by intermediate idle rolls l9 journaled in hearings in fixed longitudinal frame members 20. The upper belt 15 is supported by a driving pulley 21, an adjustable idle pulley 22, idle pulleys $23, 23

mounted on a fixed bearing, and an adjustable idle pulley 24. 25 represents a fixed frame member having a recess 26 between its end portions, the said frame member being formed to support a series of pressure rolls 27 at one end of the recess 26, and one or more pressure rolls 28 at the opposite ends of said recess. the pressure rolls 27 and 28 being journaled in fixed bearings in the frame member 25. The pressure rolls 27 and 28 bear constantly on the back of the acting stretch of the upper belt 15, and cooperate with the corresponding idle pulleys 19 in so confining the acting stretches of the two belts that they exert a proper gripping hold upon box blanks passing between the two stretches. The portions of the acting stretches extending across the mouth of the recess 26 are not thus controlled, but are normally loose so that a box blank between them is adapted to be arrested and held temporarily in a stationary position by the stops hereinafter referred to, while portions of said blanks projecting from opposite edges of the belts arebcing gummed, the

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said portions of the belts being sufficiently Two movable stop members are employed at opposite edge portions of the belts'which extend across the recess 26, one stop being here shown and designated" by the reference numeral 29, the other stop occupying a corresponding position at the opposite edges of the belts. above the acting stretches of the belts, as shown in Fig. 3, and they are depressed at intervals, as indicated in Fig.4, to arrest the advancing end of a blank 16 and hold the same temporarily between the loose portions of the acting stretches of the belts, the arrested blank being, as above stated, engaged by the loose portions of the belt stretches, so that the belts slip over its surfaces while it is arrested. The arrested blank occupies a position above two gum or glue applymg pads supported by-vert1- 'cally movable heads 31, and adapted to be pressed against the under side of the blank at opposite edges of the belts while the blank is arrested, the arrested blank bein backed and supported against the upwar pressure of the glue pads by backing pads 32 supported above the loose stretches of the belts. I

33, 33 represent adjustable pressure rolls which are located in the recess 26, and are movable therein toward and from the loose portions of the belt stretches across said recess, the object of said adjustable pressure rolls being to press the loose portion of the acting stretch of the upper belt downwardly against the blank, and thus cause the belt stretches to exert a relativel positive grasp on the blank, and start it a ong toward the point of delivery.

The stops 29 and the adjustable pressure rolls 33 are raised and depressed by suitable automatic mechanism hereinafter described, the pressure rolls being raised when the stops are depressed, as shown in Fig. 4, and the stops being raised when the pressure rolls are depressed as shown in Fig. 3, 'so that the blank is loose and unconfined between the belts when arrested bythe stops, and is free to be moved onward by the belts when the latter are subjected to pressure by the adjustable rolls 33.

Mechanism is provided for coating the glue pads 30 with glue while they are depressed, as shown in Fig. 3, the mechanism for raising the glue pads being organized to raise the coated ads and press them against the under side of the arrested blank.

34, 34 represent glue troughs which are detachably secured to the frame of the ma-- chine. 35, 35 represent glue rolls which r0- tate in contact with the glue in the troughs, and raise the same above the troughs to position to be taken up by applying rolls 36 The stops 29 are normally raised which are movable over the surfaces of the pads 31 when the latter are depressed, said rolls bein journaled in slides 37 which are movable 1n fixed horizontal guides 38 by means of levers 39 having slots 40 which receive trunnions on the ends of the applying rolls 36. The levers 39 are oscillated to move the applying rolls from the position shown in Fig.3 to that shown'in Fig. 4,

the rolls during this movement passing over the glue pads which are then depressed, as

shownin Fig. 3, and coating the latter with glue. The heads 31 then rise with the glue pads while the applying rolls 36 are in the position shown in Fig. 4. After the glue pads are again depressed, the levers 39 and the impression rolls return to the position shown in Fig. 1, the applying rolls 36 being thus brought into contact with the transferring rolls 35 in the glue troughs, so that they receive a coating of glue, the transfer ring rolls being rotated by power applied to their shaft 40'.

The mechanism for raising and depressing the glue pads and for moving the transferring rolls 36 forward and back across the depressed pads, is clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4, where 41 represents a shaft journaled in fixed bearings and provided with cams 42 and 43 formed to act alternately in raising and depressing the heads 31 and the glue pads 30, said heads being provided with rods 44 movable in fixed guides 45, and'c'om nected together at their lower ends by a cross rod 440 (see Fig. 9) said cross rod having a yoke 46 connected to it. The yoke 46 is provided with trundle rolls 47 and 48. i The trundle roll 47 engages the cam 42 and I the trundle roll 48 engages the cam 43, said cam being so formed and timed that the continuous rotation of the shaft 41 alternately raises and depresses the heads 31 and glue pads 30, the pads being held briefly in their raised position while applying theglue to the blank, and for a longer time in a depressed position while the transferring rolls are applying glue to the pads.

49 represents a shaft journaled in fixed a bearings, and provided with cams 50. Each cam actuates a yoke 51 which is provided with trundle rolls 52, 53 bearing on opposite sides of the cam, and connected by rods 54 with the levers 39. The cams are timed to oscillate the levers 39 in-such manner as I to carry the transferring rolls 36 across the glue pads when they are depressed.

The mechanism next described is provided for operating the stops 29 and adjustable pressure rolls 33. The pressure rolls 33 are journaled in bearings 1n arms 55 attached to a rock-shaft 56 which is jour-- naled in fixed bearings, and is rocked by a cam 57 (Fig. 4) aflixed to the shaft 41, a rod 58 having at one end a trundle roll 59 bearmg on the cam 57,and an arm 60 afiixed to the rock-shaft 56, and pivoted at 61 to the upper end of the rod 58. The formation of the cam 57 is such that its rotation oscillates the arm 60 and rocks the shaft 56, thus oscillating the arms 55 and raising and depressing the rolls 33.

The stops 29 are attached to arms 62 which are pivoted at 63 to a fixed part of the machine frame, and project under the rock-shaft 56. Said rock-shaft is provided with short arms (ial against which the arms extended beyond the acting stretch of the upper belt, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 3, the blanks 16 being delivered by the lower stretch to a suitable guide or receptacle 66 forming a part of the box folding machine above referred to. blanks be released from the control of the upper belt before it is engaged by the mechanism of the folding machine. To enable the acting stretch of the upper belt 15 to ter- .minate at any distance from the initial mechanism of the folding machine that may be required by the length of the blank, I mount the belt supporting roll 22 adjustably in a holder 67 which is provided with a shank 68 adjustably secured by a set screw 69 to a fixed socket 70 on the frame of the machine. To compensate for the slackening of the belt 15 caused by an inward adjustment of the roll 22, I make the idle roll 24 vertically adjustable, said roll beingjournaled in a sliding bearing 71 which is movable in a fixed guide 72 on the frame of the machine, and is adjustable by a screw 73 to take up any slack of the belt 15.

In Fi s. 1 and 6, I show a blank reservoir and mec anism for feeding the blanks edgewise from the reservoir one ata time, and presenting them to the receiving ends of the acting stretches of the belts 14 and 15, the blanks massed together in the reservoir standing vertically on edge, and each being removed by downward edgewise movement. The reservoir is composed of vertical face plates 74 rigidly supported by the frame of the machine, and adapted to support one side of a mass of blanks 16, as indicated in Fig. 1, and inclined guides 75 which. are sub stantially l..-shaped in. cross section, as

7 shown in Fig. 6, and in this case are formed to support shoulders formed bythe lower ends of wings or flaps on the blanks 16, the blanks being adapted toslide down'thein- It is desirable thatthe' clined guides 75 toward the face plates 74. .The said face plates are separated by an intermediate space, their inner edges being rabbeted to form guides 76 1n which a carrier 77 is vertically movable. To said carrier is secured a blank ejector 78 formed as a thin plate which projects from the blank supporting faces of the plates 74 sufficiently to engage the upper end of the inner blank of the mass, and push the same downwardly through a crevice 79 (Fig. 1) formed between the inner ends of the guides 75 and the face plates 74, the thickness of the ejector 78 being such that it can engage only one blank at a time. The carrier 77 is provided on its back with a rack 80 which is engaged by a gear segment 81 affixed to a rock-shaft 82 journaled in fixed bearings on the machine frame, and oscillated by means of an eccentric 83 on a shaft 8%, the strap of said eccentric being connected by a rod 85' with an arm 86' attached to the rock-shaft 82.

87 represents a follower or presser which is provided with studs 88 bearin on the upper edges of the guides 75, and is pressed by weights 89 against the mass of blanks, the'weights being connected with the fol-- lowerby cords 90.

Feed rolls 91, 92 are located below the face plates 7 4, and areadapted to engage the lower end of a blank depressed by the ejector 78, the nip of the feed rolls being in the path in which the inner blank is moved by the ejector, and the movement of the ejecto r being such that it depresses the blank until its lower end is grasped by the feed rolls. The feed roll 91 is driven by means of gears 93, 94:, and 95, the gear 93 being afiixed to the shaft 84, and the gear 95 to the shaft of the feed roll 91. The leading end of the blank emerging from between the feed rolls is deflected by a curved deflector 96 which guides the leading end of each blank to the nip of the acting stretches of the belts 1-1 and 15. The feed rolls 91 and 92 are con tinuously driven and are adapted to grasp each blank as it is depressed by the ejector 78, and force the same over the deflector96 to the carrier belts, the subsequent course of each blank being as'above indicated.

The machine is intended particularly for applying glue to the under sides of the flaps a: and y of blanks of the form shown in Fig. 6, said blanks being adapted to be converted into a box of tapering form, such as are used to contain ice cream and other co1nmodities. It is obvious, however. that the machine may be adapted to deal with blanks follows:-The ejector 78 being raised and the inner blank of the mass or pack being pressed against the face plates 74, the de scent of the ejector depresses the inner blankand presents its leading end to the nip of the feed rolls 91, 92, which force the blank along over the curved deflector 96, which changes the course of the blank and causes it to engage the acting stretches of the belts 14 and 15. When the blank reaches the loose portions of the belts crossing the recess 26, the stops 2!) are depressed and arrest the blank until its under side has been gummed. The stops are then raised and the pressure rolls depressed, thus causing the belts to quickly engage the blank and complete its course to the delivering end of the machine.

97 represents the shaft which communicates motion to the various moving parts hereinbefore described, through a suitable system of connections, which as here shown, include sprocket wheels, sprocket chains, gears, etc., said connections being so clearly illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 that description of the same in detail is not considered essential.

Provision is made for adjusting various parts of the machine to enable blanks of different widths to be handled by the machine, these provisions being next described. The guides are adjustably connected with the frame by means of studs 98 (Fig. 6) projecting outwardly from their outer sides, and adjustable longitudinally in fixed socketed projections 99 on the machine frame, these being provided with set-screws 1.00 adapted to secure the studs 98 and the guides 75 at any desired lateral adjustment, The rear ends of the glue troughs 3 l'are provided with ears 101 which embrace and are laterally movable on av transverse stud 102 engaged with the machine frame, suitable means being provided for confining the glue troughs in any lateral adjustment of which they are capable. The glue transferring rolls 35 and the ends of the troughs containin g the same, are laterally movable upon the shaft 40 which rotates the rolls The guides 38 which engage the slides 37 su nortin the glue a )lvin rolls 36 are l b t t Z: 7

laterally adjustable on fixed supporting studs 103, the levers 39 and the guides 45 which guide the glue pad carrying heads 31 being laterally adjustable on their supports. The arms carrying the adjustable pressure rolls 33 and the arms 62. carrying the stops 29 are also laterally adjustable, the arms 55 being adjustable on the rock-shaft 56, and the arms 62 on the studs or pivots 63 on which they oscillate. The blank ejector 78 is vertically adjustable on its carrier 77 to adapt the ejector to blanks of different lengths. the carrier, being provided with a slot 101- through which passes a belt 105, which secures the ejector 78 to the carrier. said bolt being adjustable vertically in the slot 101-. and confined at any desired adjustment by a thumb nut 106.

The blank reser oir arranged to hold a pack of blanks with each blank in a vertical position, and having means for supporting the pack so that its upper and lower ends are inclined, is an important feature of the invention, this arrangement of the pack of blanks permitting the inner blank to be ejected with much less frictional resistance than would be the case if the blanks were superimposed horizontally, so that their entire weight would be exerted on the inner blank. The frictional resistance to the removal of the blanks from the pack and the power required to remove or eject the blanks, are therefore reduced to the minimum. The inclination of the guides 75 may be variable so that the guides may have a steeper incline for relatively light blanks than for heavier blanks.

As shown in Fig. 5, the opposed faces of each. glue pad 30, and the accompanying backing pad 32 are grooved, the former having projecting tongues 107, and the latter having grooves 108 coinciding with and adapted to receive the said tongues, the object of this formation being to prevent the backing pads 82 from being smeared with glue in case the pad 30 rises when there is no blank between the two pads. The backing pads 32 are preferably yieldingly supported by means of springs 109 (Fig. 1) arranged to exert a downward pressure on said pads and permit them to yield to any extent that may be required by the thickness of the interposed blank. This mechanism is especially useful in connection with blanks which are not rectangular in general outline and which necessitate the application of gum along edge areas which are not parallel with the path of its movement. The blanks 16 shown in Fig. 2 are of a form to make ice-cream boxes which taper from top to bottom. Therefore the edges of the flaps are inclined relatively to the path of movement through the machine. As indicated by'dotted lines in Fig. 2, especially when compared with Fig. 5, the pads 30 have their gum applying areas inclined similarly to the edges of the flaps which pass first through the machine. The stops 20 are so located that when each blank is arrested, these front flaps are over the gum appliers, and therefore the gum is accurately applied to areas out of parallelism with the line of travel or path of movement of-the blank, but in the exact locations to best secure the flaps when the blanks are folded into'boxes. This, of course, could not be done with a gumming wheel rotating in contact with a moving blank.

Provision is madefor the adjustment of the machine to blanks of different length.

not only by the adjustability of the ejector adjustable lengthwise of the arms 62, said chine,

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arms being provided with longitudinal slots 112 which receive and permit the adjustment of bolts securing the stops to said arms.

113, 113 represent bent wire pressers at tached to the rock-shaft 56, between the arms 55 and 62, and adapted to bear on the upper belt simultaneously with the pressure rolls 33. The plates 74, 7-1 collectively constitute a substantially vertical blank abutment, against which the inner blank of the pack is pressed by the tendency of the pack to gravitate down the inclined guides 75, and by the added force of the follower 87.

The glue pads 30, by applying patches of glue to the arrested blank, prepare the lat ter 'for subsequent treatment. It is obvious that any equivalent means for preparing the blank for subsequent treatment tending to reduce it to its completed form, may be employed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A blank feeding and preparing machine, comprising a pair of belts having opposed blank-engaging stretches, means for varying the operative pressure between portions of said stretches, means for arresting a blank between the said stretches when the said operative pressure is reduced and releasing said blank when the said pressure is increased, and means for preparing the arrested blank for subsequent treatment.

2. A blank feeding and preparing macomprising a pair of belts having opposed blank-engaging stretches, means for varying the operative pressure between portions of said stretches, means for arresting a blank between said stretches when the said operative pressure is reduced and releasing said blank when the said pressure is increased, and means for gumming portions of the arrested blank.

3. A blank feeding and preparing machine, comprising a pair of belts having opposed blank-engaging stretches, portions of which are normally loose, means for alternately arresting and releasing a blank between the loose portions of the stretches, means for preparing the arrested blank for subsequent treatment, and means for inter mittently applying pressure to the loose portion of the upper stretch, to continue the feeding of the arrested blank.

4. A blank feeding and preparing machine comprising a pair of belts having parallel opposed stretches, means for con tinuously exerting pressure on end portions of said stretches, means for varying the operative pressure between intermediate portions of said stretches, means for arrest ing a blank tions of the stretches when the said operative pressure is reduced and releasing said blank when the said pressure is increased,

between the intermediate por-' and mechanism for gumming the arrested blank.

5. A blank feeding and. preparing machine comprising a pair of belts having parallel opposed stretches, means for continuously exerting pressure on end portions of said stretches, the intermediate portions thereof being normally loose, means for aland release a blank between the said portions of the stretches, automatic means for operating said stops, and mechanismfor gumming the arrested blank.

' 7 A lank feeding and preparing machine comprisin a pair of belts having parallel opposeil stretches, portions of which are normally loose, stops which are movable to arrest and release a blank between the said loose portions, pressure rolls movable toward and from the loose portion of the upper belt, automatic mechanism for operating said stops and pressure rolls, and mechanism for gumming the arrested blank. I 8. A blank feeding and preparing machine comprising a pair of belts having opposed blank-engaging stretches, means for varying the pressure between portions of said stretches, means for alternately arresting and releasing a blank between'the said portions of the stretches, lue applying pads movable toward and rom an arrested blank, backing pads arranged to support the blank against the pressure of the glue pads, and automatic mechanism for operating the glue pads.

9. A blank feeding and preparing machine comprising a pair of belts having opposed blank-engaging stretches, means for varying the pressure between portions of said stretches, means for alternately arresting and releasing a blank between the said portions of the stretches, glue applying pads movable toward and from an arrested blank, backing pads arranged to support the blank against t 1e pressure of the glue pads, and automatic means for applying glue to the glue pads.

10. A blank feeding and preparing machine comprising a pair of belts having parallel opposed stretches, means for varying the pressure between portions of said stretches, stops which are movable to arrest and release a blank between the said portions, glue applying pads movable toward and from a blank arrested by said stops, backing pads arranged to support the blank against the pressure of the glue pads, and automatic mechanism for operating said stops and glue pads.

11. A blank feeding and preparing machine comprising a pair of belts having parallel opposed stretches, portions of which are normally loose, stops which are movable totoward and from the loose portion of the upper belt, glue applying pads movable toward and from a blank arrested by said stops,

glue applying rolls which are movable over the depressed glue pads, and automatic mechanism for operating said stops, pressure rolls, glue pads, and glue applying rolls.

13. A blank feeding and preparing machine comprising a pair of belts having op posed blank-engaging stretches, portions of which are normally loose, a rock shaft having oppositely projecting forward and rear arms, pressure rolls carried by the forward arms, pivoted arms located below the rock shaft and held yieldingly against the said rear arms, stops on said pivoted arms, means for moving the rock shaft to make the pressure rolls and stops alternately operative, and means for applying glue while a blank is arrested by said stops.

14. A blank feeding and preparing ma,- chine comprising a palr of belts having opposed blank-engaging stretches, portions of which are normally loose, means for arrest ing and releasing a blank between said loose portions, glue applying pads movable toward and from an arrested blank, backing pads for supporting the blank against the pressure of the glue pads, guides adjacent to the loose portions of the belts, and reciproeating glue applying rolls movable over the aliases retracted pads in a path determined by said guides, the guides, rolls, and pads being adjustable to blanks of difierent widths, and the blank arresting means being adjustable to blanks of different lengths.

15. A blank feeding and preparing machine comprising a pair of belts having opposed blank-engaging stretches, a series of supporting rolls for the lower stretch, a series of pressure rolls bearing continuously on the upper stretch above the rolls, which support the end portions of the lower stretch, said pressure rolls being distributed to leave an elongated portion of the upper stretch normally loose, intermittently operating pressure rolls movable toward and from the loose portion of the upper stretch,

and means for arresting the blanks and applying glue thereto when under said loose portion.

16. A blank feeding and preparing machine, comprising a pair of belts having opposed blank-engagingstretches for engaging the blanks at their midwidths, gum appliers at each side of the pair of belts, means for arresting each blank temporarily in accurate predetermined position during the operation of said appliers, andmeans forsupplying blanks one at a time to said belts rela' applying gum to portions of each blank pro ect1ng beyond the edges of the belts, and means for supplying blanks one at a time to said belts, said means includin con- .nectrons for preventing the presence 0 more than one blank at a time in arrested position to receive gum.

lln testimony whereof I have afilxed my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

ELIE w. LABOMBARDE.

Witnesses:

C. F.'BROWN, P. W. Pnzznm.

means for 

